DragonFly

Our Programme for Learners with Down Syndrome

DragonFly

Imagine the possibilities

Photo: Gilles Vézina

DragonFly

Our Programme for Learners with Down Syndrome

In a carefully designed environment, students use their individual strengths to learn; one day they may be developing math concepts through dance, on another building their understanding of literature through dance, drama, puppetry and story-telling.

Our innovative programmes are the result many years of careful programme development. The result is our growing expertise of best practices in educating learners with Down Syndrome.

Programme Directors

Director of Education, DragonFly Programme

Barbara Roblin is the Director of Education for the DragonFly Programme. She is a certified Primary/Junior teacher in Ontario with diplomas in Child Study and Early Childhood Education. Ms. Roblin has over 10 years of experience working with learners with Down Syndrome and has developed the Trio Foundation Program, which creates individualized learning plans in literacy and math for Down Syndrome students.

Photo: TSOD Archives

Merrilee Hodgins, A.R.A.D.

Artistic Director of The School of Dance

Merrilee Hodgins directs the DragonFly dance programmes. Miss Hodgins studied in Canada, England, Denmark and the United States. In 1971, she was awarded the prestigious Solo Seal of the Royal Academy of Dancing. In 1973 she became principal dancer with the Alberta Ballet Company, later working in Denmark, Germany and the U.S. as a freelance artist. Miss Hodgins, a recipient of the YM-YWCA's 1997 Women of Distinction Award, was the 1997 Chair of the City of Ottawa's Cultural Leadership Committee, was a member of the board of directors for Dance Ontario, is a Director of the Celia Franca Foundation, and has been awarded Canada Council grants to research and develop projects to introduce children to dance. Committed throughout her career to accessibility and collaboration, Miss Hodgins developed The School's portfolio of community programmes including Dance is BEST for Seniors and Dancing in the Street. Recent projects include choreographic commissions from the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, collaboration with Canadian poet Susan McMaster, and a commission to produce a concert version of Stravinsky's Firebird for the Brott Music Festival in Hamilton, Ontario. In January 2013, Senator Jim Munson nominated and then presented Merrilee with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work in arts education in Canada.